Stimulating the brain cells

‘Kapala’ in Sanskrit means skull, while ‘Bhati’ means shine. So ‘kapalabhati’ means an exercise that makes the skull shine. It’s one of the six ‘kriyas’ (cleansing techniques) that helps purify the skull and the lungs.

Technique

• Sit cross-legged, with your back straight. Rest your hands on your knees.
• Inhale deeply through your nose, expand your abdomen and exhale with forceful contraction of the abdominal muscles. (Pull the abdomen in by quickly contracting the abdominal muscles and exhale through the nose). Air is pushed out of the lungs due to contraction of the diaphragm.
• Next, inhale again without putting any effort. Relax and the lungs will automatically expand with air.
• Begin with 15 respirations. After completing, inhale and exhale deeply. This is one round. One can start off by three such rounds.
• During this process, there should not be any unwanted movements.

Benefits

Increased blood flow to the brain and cleansing of the frontal lobe. Forceful movements of the abdominal organs increase inter-abdominal pressure and eliminates body waste.

Precautions

Kapalbhati should not be practised by people with heart disease, high blood pressure or a hernia.

Don’t do it...

• When an asthmatic attack is in progress
• If you experience pain or dizziness, stop and later restart with lesser force.